Page 5 of Coming Unraveled
As he grabs his bags from the conveyor in the airport baggage claim he thinks back to the scintillating and aggravating woman that beckoned him from the moment he laid eyes on her.
His shoulder was acting up, the old baseball injury flaring from its overuse as he carried his bags through the airport this morning, and the alcohol he had consumed a few minutes prior at Horizon’s wasn’t helping. His friend Logan notices as he rotates his shoulder a few times.
“You don’t have to come with us.”
Brooks shakes his head but continues. He is intrigued at the prospect of meeting the rest of Avery’s family, especially the sister he had hoped to meet the day before, the sister that can help him with the clinic Avery wants him to head.
“You called and said it is an emergency and I want to help. Plus, Nikki is my friend too.”
They knock on the front door only to be ushered in quickly by Austin, who stands there holding the door ajar as more people hurry into the space.
Brooks can’t help but wonder how so many of these people were up and ready at five in the morning. But before he can ponder any longer he watches as a streak of golden silk skirts into the room and takes a seat next to Austin’s mother.
Everleigh.
This must be the elusive sister he had yet to meet. Something about her draws him in, mesmerizes him, leaves him in a puddle at her feet. There is nothing he can do but stare. The pull is too strong to turn away. He hasn’t even taken in any of her appearance, just the beautiful golden strands and the profile of her slightly upturned nose and plump lips. He is hooked.
Breaking him from his gawking, an older man in a sheriff’s jacket calls him out for leaving Horizon’s not too long ago.
“Yes, sir. Just trying to get to know my neighbors.”
He listens carefully most of the conversation, taking in the FBI agents plan to trick the people after Austin. Brooks was fine with sitting back, letting the family decide the best things to do for themselves until a strong proclamation comes from the beautiful woman that had captured him from her entrance.
“I’ll do it,” she says as Dylan asks for someone to pretend to be Nikki since she is with child.
His muscles lock tight at the thought of harm coming to a single strand of her hair.
“Like hell, you will,” he bellows from his perch in the corner.
“Excuse me? Do you think you have a say in this? I don’t even know who you are,” she returned with more venom than he thought possible from such an angelic looking woman.
Everleigh continues to spout off the reasons for her decision and his temper flared with each excuse until his blood boiled beneath his skin.
“You know what? Fine, forget that the people here are those that care about you,” Brooks concludes. “Austin, I’ll be here until Sunday. You know how to reach me for everything else.”
His body radiates in fury as he pushes off the wall, his mind ignoring the surprised and concerned stares from his friends.
Brooks’ heavy boots stomp towards the front entrance of the home, the walls shaking with every step, glass vibrating in the antique chest against the hallway. His hand settles on the doorknob and, taking a deep breath, he turns to glance back in the kitchen once more. His eyes lock on Everleigh’s, they stare back at him with a mix of confusion and anger, and if he isn’t mistaken, attraction.
That feeling of protectiveness surges through him again and he knows at that moment that everything in him is for her. His heart, his soul, his being.
As he walks back to his car, heavy feeling in his chest, he can’t help but feel like he’s met his match.
A few days later Dylan had orchestrated the fake engagement plan during the Carson New Year’s Eve Festival. He felt it was a sure-fire way to capture the people hell-bent on killing Austin and embezzling his millions.
Things were going smoothly and the exchange between Nikki and Everleigh had just taken place while Brooks waits against the side of the bakery, Wake and Bake. Maybe she had been right and he made a fuss out of nothing, but then his heart had stopped when a shadow emerges from around the parking lot, eyes narrowed, gun drawn. Right at Everleigh.
Brooks was frozen, immobilized. There wasn’t anything he could do or say at that moment, all he can hear is his heartbeat bursting in his ears. Finally, his legs move on their own accord as another FBI agent steps around him with her own gun drawn.
“Drop your weapon,” Alexis, the agent, shouts.
But all Brooks can make out is the soft whimper coming from his heart’s desire as the gun presses against her back.
Suddenly, Austin finds an opportunity and yanks her away from the gun’s point and tosses her towards him. Brooks captures her in his arms and tucks her against his body, shielding her from the situation before them. Before he has a chance to check her over, to speak to her alone, the gun-wielding woman points it in Everleigh’s direction once more and it’s all Brooks can do to keep her protected underneath his hold.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he whispers to her as he tucks her head under his chin.
Alarming them all, a shot rings out and a loud wail quickly follows. Brooks watches as blood pools from the figure's shoulder and he grips Everleigh tighter. Wanting to her hold her in his arms just a moment longer.
